OT: Video Game Talk (oh, also the Week before the All-Star Break Pre-Game Talk "archive")

[MacKaRant]

What's the deal with the bad ratings for TotK? People are either rating it a 5 or a 1.

Standard review bombing stuff. Who knows what motivates those people or what grievances they are carrying.

It's a fantastic game, and as far as I can tell, it doesn't contain any of the usual political triggers that frequently leads to review bombing.

 

[henchman21]

What's the deal with the bad ratings for TotK? People are either rating it a 5 or a 1.

I don’t pay attention to ratings much… but anybody rating it a 1 is a dummy. It is basically a better and deeper botw. If you hate botw, you’ll hate totk… and the opposite.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I just can't get into the Nitendo ecosystem. I mainly play on the PC, but my wife has a PS5. Thinking of getting a Steam Deck. Has anyone got any experience with those?

 

[The Moops]

I just can't get into the Nitendo ecosystem. I mainly play on the PC, but my wife has a PS5. Thinking of getting a Steam Deck. Has anyone got any experience with those?

I love mine, but I'm a tinkerer

 

[sethro109]

I just can't get into the Nitendo ecosystem. I mainly play on the PC, but my wife has a PS5. Thinking of getting a Steam Deck. Has anyone got any experience with those?

I also very much enjoy my steam deck. But I don't really use it as it's intended to be used. I mostly use it to emulate older games and pokemon ROM hacks. The only "newer" games I played on it were Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and Ruin Factory 5. Both ran perfectly. Those games aren't ram guzzlers though, so I would take that with a grain of salt.

 

[henchman21]

I just can't get into the Nitendo ecosystem. I mainly play on the PC, but my wife has a PS5. Thinking of getting a Steam Deck. Has anyone got any experience with those?

My thing is there are just so damn many good Nintendo games. They are never the prettiest, but so damn good and mostly polished experiences. Creative, fun, challenging while not being punishing… all the best things in gaming. They are a pain with all their rules and prices though.

I want a steam deck myself, but seeing the native Windows competitors (the new asus one namely) makes me want to go that direction. Maybe not as smooth or easy, but I have gamepass already and no steam library built up… would be a great portable for how I mostly play.

 

[expatriatedtexan]

I have an on-line buddy that has done some engineering on his steam deck. He uses the steam deck in conjunction with his VR headset to fly his drone of all things. He said it's pretty crappy range but he can fly it in a field. Of course, he also tried to play Star Citizen via the Steam Deck and that was a big no. *LOL*

I've been enjoying the steam sales recently getting all the old console titles I missed after moving to PC (invested way too much time in MMORPGs for a while). Been thinking the Steam Deck would be perfect to carry upstairs and play some of the platformers before bed. I understand that it probably won't be playing current AAA titles in high fidelity. Would be nice if CyberPunk runs on it though, as I haven't played that one through yet.

 

[The Merchant]

Anyone playing Honkai: Star Rail? I skipped on Genshin, but I am absolutely obsessed with this one. Addictive gameplay, fair gatcha mechanics and insanely high production value for a mobile game.

 

[Avs91]

I also very much enjoy my steam deck. But I don't really use it as it's intended to be used. I mostly use it to emulate older games and pokemon ROM hacks. The only "newer" games I played on it were Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and Ruin Factory 5. Both ran perfectly. Those games aren't ram guzzlers though, so I would take that with a grain of salt.

Pokemon yellow was my first game... I would be so happy if they brought it to Switch, but they won't since the franchise is still putting out games. Maybe I'll look into the Steam Deck when I have a little extra cash.

I do use Nintendo Switch Online to play old SNES games (Super Mario World, DK Country 1-3 mostly), in fact I'm going to order a SNES controller for it.

 

[sethro109]

Pokemon yellow was my first game... I would be so happy if they brought it to Switch, but they won't since the franchise is still putting out games. Maybe I'll look into the Steam Deck when I have a little extra cash.

I do use Nintendo Switch Online to play old SNES games (Super Mario World, DK Country 1-3 mostly), in fact I'm going to order a SNES controller for it.

The "Let's Go" games were a remake of yellow, so I doubt they'll bring them while they can squeeze money out of that.

I do highly recommend something to emulate games on. With save states and speed up features, it makes playing classic games much more enjoyable. Especially with how unforgiving some of those classic games were.

 

[S E P H]

@henchman21 In terms of Nintendo, they have the best lineup of games that you know will be great to play and have fun with, especially with friends. Inviting some friends over and putting in Super Smash, Mario Party, Mario Kart, or Mario World is an easy combination. All of these games are quite passive in nature, make it easier to jump into, and don't require a super heavy skillset. Skill is required, but I argue less than needing to go into an RTS or jumping into CoD. That combination makes it have the same type of influence like watching the telly does.

I've enjoyed Playstation games more because they're more unique and more in-depth in terms of story, however, I admit that all this stuff with PS is new to me since PS4 is my first Sony system. In comparison, where I had pretty much every Nintendo system besides the Wii, so I am more accustomed to their exclusives and know what to expect.

 

[henchman21]

@henchman21 In terms of Nintendo, they have the best lineup of games that you know will be great to play and have fun with, especially with friends. Inviting some friends over and putting in Super Smash, Mario Party, Mario Kart, or Mario World is an easy combination. All of these games are quite passive in nature, make it easier to jump into, and don't require a super heavy skillset. Skill is required, but I argue less than needing to go into an RTS or jumping into CoD. That combination makes it have the same type of influence like watching the telly does.

I've enjoyed Playstation games more because they're more unique and more in-depth in terms of story, however, I admit that all this stuff with PS is new to me since PS4 is my first Sony system. In comparison, where I had pretty much every Nintendo system besides the Wii, so I am more accustomed to their exclusives and know what to expect.

Yeah Nintendo games are just a really good combo. Even my wife doesn't mind playing a few and that is a leap for her.

Sony (and namely Naughty Dog in particular) are fantastic at single player narrative driven games. They can be a lot of fun, and the original Last of Us was one of the best games of all time. I do find their formulas are getting a bit stale. I'd like to see them take some time away from a series and re-invent instead of repeating the same ones. Plus maybe just try some different things. Frankly, I think that is why Ghosts of Tsushima was so good... a talented studio just doing something different. I hope Naughty Dog is currently working on something outside the Uncharted and Last of Us universes.

 

[Pokecheque]

Not much of a gamer but I own an Asus laptop and every machine I've bought from that company for myself and other people have been top-notch.

Only thing I'd add is that if they offer the insurance and accidental damage stuff (in addition to just the regular warranty), GET IT. My Zenbook Duo got a crack in the screen and the repairs got a lot more involved than I had anticipated. If I hadn't gotten the accidental damage policy when I bought it, it would've cost me about as much as I paid for it in the first place, instead it was $0. Took a while but it came back good as new.

 

[Vaslof]

Standard review bombing stuff. Who knows what motivates those people or what grievances they are carrying.

It's a fantastic game, and as far as I can tell, it doesn't contain any of the usual political triggers that frequently leads to review bombing.

That the new Zelda game? I heard chuds are mad about Link being too feminine.

I've been playing Chained Echoes. It's an old school styled RPG but with modern quality of life stuff. Highly recommending it to anyone who likes RPG's.

 

[henchman21]

That the new Zelda game? I heard chuds are mad about Link being too feminine.

I've been playing Chained Echoes. It's an old school styled RPG but with modern quality of life stuff. Highly recommending it to anyone who likes RPG's.

Link never speaks... you don't get much more manly than saying nothing, repressing those feelings as deeply as possible, and getting to work building shit.

 

[sethro109]

I don't know how to feel about this. They're bringing back the original voice cast, but how can you make a MGS game, even a remake without Kojima?

 

[missionAvs]

Lots of positive posts about the Steam deck so I figure balance is needed. I've had mine since about when it was originally sold and have used it a grand total of maybe 2 hours lol. The thing lives in its case in a closet not 15 feet away from the gaming PC I play games on. Complete waste of money for me.

 

[henchman21]

I don't know how to feel about this. They're bringing back the original voice cast, but how can you make a MGS game, even a remake without Kojima?

Just hope they don’t change anything…

But where is my Policenauts remake?!?!

 

[sethro109]

Just hope they don’t change anything…

But where is my Policenauts remake?!?!

Policenauts and Snatcher would be awesome remakes.

 

[henchman21]

Policenauts and Snatcher would be awesome remakes.

I’d pay way too much and no matter the system I’d be in.

 

[The Merchant]

I don't know how to feel about this. They're bringing back the original voice cast, but how can you make a MGS game, even a remake without Kojima?

Can't help but feel conflicted considering MGS3 is one of my favorite games of all-time. Stoked to have David Hayter back, though.

 

[sethro109]

Can't help but feel conflicted considering MGS3 is one of my favorite games of all-time. Stoked to have David Hayter back, though.

I feel the exact same way.

 

[ASmileyFace]

Whoever recommended Hades for the Switch... thank you. That game is exactly what I was looking for. Hack and slash with a dose of strategy, while also having a fun storytelling and being kinda beautiful. I haven't Escaped yet, but I've got about 20 attempts so far and have made it to the Elysium bosses a few times. It's just so enjoyable to see what different builds you end up with and how that affects your strategy.

 

[sethro109]

Whoever recommended Hades for the Switch... thank you. That game is exactly what I was looking for. Hack and slash with a dose of strategy, while also having a fun storytelling and being kinda beautiful. I haven't Escaped yet, but I've got about 20 attempts so far and have made it to the Elysium bosses a few times. It's just so enjoyable to see what different builds you end up with and how that affects your strategy.

A little tip to that I think every one should know about Hades is. Always, when given the chance, take Athena's dash.

 

[ASmileyFace]

A little tip to that I think every one should know about Hades is. Always, when given the chance, take Athena's dash.

I ever up escaping for the first time earlier!

I was using the Fists, which I hated at first, but I got super lucky on my boons. Athena’s dash is op AF and I mostly used chilled festive fog casts to do my damage while dashing around avoiding damage.

What a great game. And now I gotta go back and try to win with the other weapons!